While I agree that Mr. Schaefer has taken it a bit too far - I have say that in a world of obnoxious over-political-correctness I am just loving listening to someone not censor themselves. I'd have to say, I'm 10 times happier with someone who thinks it and says it than with someone who just thinks it. Our public officials are waaaayyy too burdoned by restraining themselves to remain PC and in turn nothing productive ever gets done and our tax dollars are pissed down to drain. That being said, not really sure how I'd feel about voting for the senial old man again, but luckily, I refuse to affiliate myself with either of the stupid parties and in turn my voice is entirely unheard in this disgustingly bipartisan system that we live in - so I won't need to tackle that problem of whether or not to vote for him. But I am just saying, a little anti-PCness is absolutely refreshing - sometimes I wish Bush would just blurt out what he's really thinking, I'd hate him for it, but at least I'd KNOW I hated him instead of just speculating about the fact that I hate him. Anyway, the humor of reading Mr. Fischer's "I'm always right", little room for any opinion, rantings is more than enough to make me want to vote for Schaefer, just to hear Fischer cry about it if he wins.

The "little man" crack is hardly cause for the world to end - relax Koreans! However, what he did that young woman is a disgrace. If he had any shame, and clearly he does not, he never would have perpetuated that classless act, let alone stay in, and seek another term in office.

Willie Don is comfortable with non-PC language. He isn't uptight at all. (Ha!)

So, I think he'll have no problem with a campaign that calls him an Old Sour Kraut. Other non-PC epithets for the crack brain from the North are welcome I'm sure.

How is it considered "non-PC" to treat other human beings as something less than you? Is he somehow "fighting back against those damn commie liberals" by referring to ALL women as "little girls" and disparaging ALL immigrants?

Rather than breaking free from whatever "politically correct" language that has been imposed on us over the last 10-15 years, isn't Schaefer really just being an a-hole?

This isn't about "political correctness" this is about common decency. Personally, I expect more out of my representatives. If you want to undermine "political correctness" run amok, leave it to the comedians.

And another thing, every Maryland resident is now officially prohibited from every arguing against DC statehood by relying on the "they re-elected Marion Barry" argument, and from making any jokes about Marion Barry.

You have William Donald Schaefer. Shame on you.

Hopefully, he'll only have a "little" more time in Office.

Fair statement OD, I always hated that "you elected so and so" nonsense "so you don't deserve basic Democratic rights" too. Our own President proves daily that democratic choices aren't always perfect.

I don't believe that MD's Donald will be reelected. We respected his past service as Baltimore's mayor, not his present. I think MD voters will say "you're fired"

schaefer is a nut job. axe him and let's move on.

There is nothing really delicious or fun about Mr. Schaeffer's remarks or behavior. Treating people with respect is not "P.C."; it's the right thing to do. Why MD voters continue to tolerate this behavior is a mystery to me. Let's grow up and get rid of this guy.

There is nothing really delicious or fun about Mr. Schaeffer's remarks or behavior. Treating people with respect is not "P.C."; it's the right thing to do. Why MD voters continue to tolerate this behavior is a mystery to me. Let's grow up and get rid of this guy.

There is nothing really delicious or fun about Mr. Schaeffer's remarks or behavior. Treating people with respect is not "P.C."; it's the right thing to do. Why MD voters continue to tolerate this behavior is a mystery to me. Let's grow up and get rid of this guy.

Marc,
Is there any hope that one of his challengers will drop out so that they won't split the anti-Schaefer vote?

Seriously, Franchot and Owens and some major Democratic party leaders are going to have to figure out how to either get Willie Don to pull out before the primary or one of the other two candidates has to do so. A three way race will very likely assure a primary win for Willie. There are enough "old timers" who want to turn the clock back who think Willie is "their guy" and will vote for the "plain speaking guy they know".Owens came to this deal late and should be the one to pull out. Ther are so many other issues going on in the democratic primaries that this Willie Don issue needs to get fixed NOW.

Am I the only one who thinks "early Alzheimer's" when reading about Schaeffer?

I lived in Baltimore City from 1973 to 1983 while attending college, graduate school and my first professional job. Former Gov. Schaefer should be given any job he wants for life for what he accomplished as Mayor and Governor. So what if he's politically incorrect--he gets things done, has the taxpayers interest at heart and he certainly hasn't enriched himself at the taxpayers expense. Like the bumper sticker says, "He says what you thing".

Interesting no one remembers his opinions on the Eastern Shore. If I still lived in Maryland I'd vote for him every chance I got.

If Paris Glendenning had been an executive in private industry he would have been fired and his organization sued for sexual harrasment for what he pulled (together with righteous indignation from the feminists and press)--to even quote him is an outrage. Given Gov. Schaefer's allegiances with the current Governor running for re-election do I detect your personal politics intruding here Marc?

More like "advanced Alzheimer's."

I will OD, that calling men short (which frequently conveys a whole lot of other adjectives, from gay to wimpy) is one of the last socially accepted derogatory expressions in our culture. Your response, which is simply to tell the offended person to "act like a man" and "get over it" is also a common retort. Would you say the same thing to the woman Schaeffer disparaged if she complained? (I assume you wouldn't.) See my point?

I expect that this is Willie Don's last term. I suspect that I'm not the only diehard Democrat who might touch the R candidate on my touch screen if Schaefer is the party's nominee.

I can't remember the last time I voter for a Republican. But I don't see voting for Schaefer again.

I hope schaefer wins big. All the windbag media types cant believe that they havent knocked schaefer down yet. He is an independent person who has no axe to grind except for doing his job the way he believes it should be done. If you dont like how he has done his job, then vote against him, but to vote because of the crap the media keeps bring up is nonsense. Peter franchot is a simple rubberstamp for the state house and senate. Janet Owens would be a reasonable pick but I find no reason to throw out donald scaefer. Get rid of the PC police. They monitor every comment to be offended.

Just a thought,

I have no idea what you're saying, or why you're directing it at me? Am I missing something here?

I never advised anyone to "get over it" or "act like a man" . . . I thought I was conveying my disgust at Schaefer's comments to both women and immigrants.

The issue I was trying to raise was how treating other people without respect somehow got framed as being "un-PC" and celebrated? If conservatives -- of which I count myself as one -- are supposed to champion returning to good old fashioned values, wouldn't the lesson be 'treat everyone nicely,' not 'if you're an old white man, treat women and minorities like second-class citizens'? I don't understand how the former became derided as "PC".

The point is not that Schaefer is being politcally incorrect (he is), or that he's old (he is), or that he's a successful politician (he is). The point, in my view, is that he cares more about HIS views now than his constituents' views. I don't see the grace, the empathy, the passion he once had for serving Maryland residents. Being blunt, outspoken and speaking your mind is much different then caring. And I think he's gotten to the point where he only cares about himself. That's the problem.

Schaeffer, irrelevant for years, would go away if the media stopped reporting his every breath. The lazy media feeds this man's desperation to stay relevant. Enough already.

"He says what you thing," eh? Oh-ho, I thing otherwise.

I don't think anyone deserves a job for what they did 20-30 years ago. Praise for foresight, maybe; honor for what they got right. But being right in 1973 is no guarantee of any ability to divine the truth in 2006.

Franchot is too old. Franchot lost his mind in the 1960s and would be paralyzed in an executive office. He would worry too much about offending anybody. Being from Takoma Park should disqualify you from ever representing the state. TP has the highest "we think we're cool" divided by "we actually are cool" ratios in the country.

Schaeffer has a career of dealing with real problems and making people angry because he took a stand. Franchot has nothing but failures and tilting at wind mills.

I grew up in Baltimore, and our esteemed former mayor may have helped to spur the development of the Inner Harbor and bring some zest back to the City, but he also managed to get his friends lucrative and exclusive municipal contracts. Hackerman in particular was a beneficiary, and that garbage magnate wasn't a friend to the environment or interested in saving the City's taxpayers any money.

At this point, I think Willie Don (or Don Donaldo, as "B-more Sun" columnist Dan Rodricks liked to say) stays around because he wants a legacy like Louie Goldstein's (God bless his diligent soul). I think he's afraid of retirement, of no limelight, of being alone without an attentive public. What would he do? Who would care? He's an old exhibitionist, and where do they go when their work is done?

That doesn't mean I'd vote for him. I think he needs some time out in the pasture.

The guys a jerk, get rid of him.

Well said JKS!

I agree with JKS. It is not about being "politically correct" here - it is about being correct, period. It is about not saying racist or sexist things. Schaefer is 20 years past his prime and needs to go.

As long as the republicans keep their two flag-waving PC Nutjobs in the Governor and Lt Governor positions, I want my nutjob comptroller who isn't afraid to ruffle feathers.

Poly Sci 101:

The MEDIA keeps political "codgers" alive.

Bless Them

The main reason for my plans to vote for Schaeffer is his 'anti PC' comments. This shows me he is in no one's pocket. There, take that PC world.

I realize Schaeffer is often full of it but the more the PC types vent their spleen and tremble with outrage the more I want to vote for Uncle Don. Considering that life in the USA lately has been an unending stream of stick it to the little guy, I relish my chance to stick it to somone else for a change!

Anyone else in a government position that make the comments that he made would have been fired or disclipined. Even thought he is elected and not "hired" should not make a difference. And Haircut's laughing about the ordeals shows his ignorance. All I can say is that if his wife concurs with his support of Schaffer's antics, then she is only a "barefoot and in the kitchen" woman.

I never have been able to figure out why some people rejected as political correctness any effort to be respectful of other people.
Schaefer needs to be put out to pasture. Maybe he can share one with Bobby Haircut, who appears to like him better than a lot of Democrats do.

They named a candy bar after Schaefer: Zero!

Better than Snickers with Franchot or missing a PayDay with that Whatchmacallit other guy.

It is clearly time for Schaefer to go!! Franchot has no experience at all, and being so behind in the polls, should be the one to pullout. Owens has a rock solid history as county executive for the past 8 years and would serve this state in a wonderful way. Elect OWENS!!!